LIEUT. W. H. OWSTON

Location: The Church of St Peter, 2 Church Cl, Glentham, Market Rasen LN8 2EW


Details on cross (Text content of cross):

GRU
RIP
LIEUT. W. H. OWSTON
2/4TH LINCOLN REGT
DIED OF WOUNDS
22-10-17

Text type (e.g. hand-written, GRU tags, carved): 1 GRU Tag, then painted text


Dimensions:

Shaft Height: 950mm
Cross beam width: 420mm
Width of wood: 95mm
Thickness or depth: 50mm

Circle plate (if celtic type)
Outer diameter: 320mm Inner diameter: 200mm
Width of circle: 60mm
Thickness: 37mm
(Measurements made: 23 February 2019. John Scurr)

Other information
Mounting to wall: Hung by wire
Detailing: Celtic type cross
Evidence of use in field (earth marking, cracking, staining, shrinkage): Sawn off point
Surface insertion depth (into ground if apparent): N/A
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Painted
Condition (cracked, paint peeling, woodwork, damage etc): Good condition

Notes and observations: (optional)

This returned cross is hung on the wall next to two plaques commemorating parishioners lost in both World Wars, and next to a beautiful stained glass window which was installed as a memorial to Sir Montagu Cholmeley, a local man who died in ww1.

It’s incredibly likely that before he went to the Western front, Lt Owston was stationed in Dublin, putting down the Easter Rising. After that, his battalion moved to France in Feb, 1917.

It looks like he was wounded at Paschendaele, then moved to a casualty clearing station nearby and on to a hospital.

The regimental war diary states that they were supposed to be relieved by the Staffordshire regiment, but they were delayed and it was then he was shot. He died at Carency.

https://www.lincstothepast.com/Lieut–W-H–Owston/1579903.record?pt=S

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Lincolnshire/Glentham.html


Survey courtesy of: Alison Treacy and Sara Carter

Photographs courtesy of: Alison Treacy and Sarah Carter

Date of survey: 31.3.2018